trbccoffeebreak

“Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.” I John 2:10 (ESV)

Who would have thought a simple puddle of water could create such havoc? My husband has been on crutches the last few weeks and even the smallest splash of water resulted in an almost mishap. Yes, we definitely don’t want to see him fall or hit the floor. So, nurse Janet has been on her knees a lot lately – seems every time I fill up his water bottle, change his ice pack, etc., some residue of water ends up on the floor. Desperately trying to prevent any falls.

Wonder if I take the same precautions to cultivate an environment to prevent spiritual falls? So easy to justify what I want to do and how it’s so okay and not a stumbling block for me, but what about my brothers and sisters in Christ? We can rationalize our life away, excuse choices and claim its not hurting anyone but us. The truth is, as believers, we are the body of Christ – we are one. Whatever we do or fail to do affects the entire body of Christ.

If I take that thought outside the realm of my spiritual family, my choices can also create a huge barrier to those who don’t know Christ. Joining in on things I know don’t serve me well creates a double standard – one I tell others and the one I live. Compromises which don’t seem to phase us can be the last straw for someone else’s struggle with sin (Romans 14:13).

Our world desperately longs for authentic, true living. If we’re aligning ourselves with God, then we need to make sure we represent Him well. We’re His team, His ambassadors – the ones He entrusted with the gospel. Allowing our mishaps to spill over and cause others to tumble never pleases our Father. While we can’t control what others do, we can make sure we are anchored in His truth so our life choices won’t cause others to stumble. And when temptation arises, pause and reconsider is the pleasure of a moment worth the potential downfall of many. Simple answer – no. We were created to be light drawing others to the Father not entertaining darkness.

“Father, the ones who abide, linger and stay close to You keep their feet from stumbling and dragging others with them. Help us to stay far from the edge and resist compromise.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life